Alcademics

Hooray! I am a finalist in the Tales of the Cocktail Spirits Awards for Best Cocktail Writing. This is my second time being nominated for this award. 

Here's the full press release:

Nominee Finalist for the Tales of the Cocktail® 5th Annual Spirited Awards™ 

New Orleans, LA - June 1, 2011 -- Nominees have been chosen by a group of esteemed members of the cocktail industry for the prestigious Spirited Awards™.  The Ceremony will be held in New Orleans on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater, as part of the international festival, Tales of the Cocktail® have been chosen.  This year, the judging committees left it was time to add three new categories, Best High Volume Cocktail Bar to be awarded to the top bar that consistently delivers top quality cocktails at bars with 100 seats or more. This award celebrates those bars that deliver cocktail culture to the masses efficiently. Cocktails, lists, bartending, and service are all considered, as well as, Best Restaurant Bar to be awarded to the top restaurant bar that is dedicated to creating a great cocktail experience for their dining guests. Considerations will go to the approach they have to Aperitif and Digestive drinks, how well they work with the kitchen to pair cocktails with food, as well as general bartending and mixing excellence. And finally, the award for Best Cocktail Writing has been divided into two subcategories, Non-Book Publication and Author.   The Non-Book category celebrates publications as a whole for their excellence in overall writing. The Author category awards individual writers for their contributions to furthering information, knowledge and interest in cocktail culture. 

Through its annual Spirited Awards™, Tales of the Cocktail® provides recognitionto those individuals and establishments that have shown an outstanding talent for advancing thecraft of the cocktail. To embody the ideals with which Tales of the Cocktail® was originallyfounded, these awards will recognize both national and international honorees who will receiveexclusive Riedel Crystal awards. 

Pernod Ricard USA is proud to be the sponsor of this year’s 5th Annual Spirited Awards™ for the company’s fourth year in a row- recognizing industry leaders and innovators. For the past 8 years, Tales of the Cocktail® has brought together an incredible group of suppliers, bartenders, writers and the most authoritative experts in the industry- all acting as partners in the celebration and appreciation of cocktail culture. In presenting the Spirited Awards™ and as the industry leader in bartender education, Pernod Ricard USA applauds each participant and nominee. Also, as part of the evening’s celebration, Beverage Media Group, Inc. will recognize 10 Up & Coming Mixologists, selected from participants of the Tales of the Cocktail Apprentice Program. 

Awards to be announced at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards™ on Saturday, July 23, 2011 in New Orleans at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.  Tickets can now be purchased online at www.TalesoftheCocktail.com. Please see below for a complete list of nominee according to category. 

American Bartender of the Year
●      Eric Alperin, Los Angeles, California
●      Kenta Goto, New York City, New York
●      Misty Kalkofen, Boston, Massachusetts
●      Sam Ross, New York City, New York
●      Joaquin Simo, New York City, New York 

Best American Brand Ambassador
●      Colin Asare-Appiah, U'luvka Vodka
●      Jacques Bezuidenhout, Partida Tequila
●      Jamie Gordon, Absolut Vodka
●      Jim Ryan, Hendrick's Gin 

Best American Cocktail Bar
●      Clover Club, New York City, New York
●      Drink, Boston, Massachusetts
●      Employees Only, New York City, New York
●      The Varnish, Los Angeles, California 

Best Bar Mentor
●      Wayne Collins, London, England
●      Steve Olson, New York City, New York
●      Audrey Saunders, New York City, New York
●      Dushan Zaric, New York City, New York 

Best High Volume Cocktail Bar
●      Eastern Standard, Boston, Massachusetts
●      Flatiron Lounge, New York City, New York
●      Florida Room, Miami, Florida
●      Rickhouse, San Francisco, California 

Best Cocktail Writing - Non Book
●      BarlifeUK.com
●      Imbibe USA
●      Liquor.com
●      Tasting Panel Magazine 

Best Cocktail Writing - Author
●      Toby Cecchini, New York City, New York
●      Camper English, San Francisco, Francisco
●      Darcy O'Neil, London, Ontario
●      Naren Young, New York City, New York 

Best International Brand Ambassador
●      Ian Burrell
●      Claire Smith, Belvedere Vodka
●      Dan Warner, Beefeater Gin
●      Angus Winchester, Tanqueray Gin 

Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book
●      Fix the Pumps by Darcy O'Neill 
●      Left Coast Libations by Ted Munat & Michael Lazar* 
●      Punch by David Wondrich 
●      Speakeasy by Dushan Zaric and Jay Kosmas  

Best New Product
●      Bank's Rum
●      Cocchi Americano**
●      Smith & Cross Rum
●      Tequila Calle 23 

Best Restaurant Bar
●      The Drawing Room, Chicago, Illinois
●      Eleven Madison Park, New York City, New York
●      Hawksmoor Seven Dials, London, England
●      Hix, London, England 

International Bartender of the Year
●      Erik Lorincz, London, England
●      Dre Masso, London, England
●      Sam Ross, New York City, New York
●      Dushan Zaric, New York City, New York 

World’s Best Cocktail Bar
●      69 Colebrooke Row, London, England
●      Dry Martini, Barcelona, Spain
●      Employees Only, New York City, New York
●      High Five, Tokyo, Japan 

World’s Best Cocktail Menu
●      Artesian at The Langham, London, England
●      Eau de Vie, Sydney, Australia
●      Mayahuel, New York City, New York
●      Sanctuaria, St. Louis, Missouri 

World’s Best Drinks Selection
●      Artesian at The Langham, London, England
●      Cure, New Orleans, Louisiana
●      Eau de Vie, Sydney, Australia
●      Employees Only, New York City, New York 

World’s Best Hotel Bar
●      Artesian at The Langham, London, England
●      Clive's Classic Lounge at Chateau Victoria Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia
●      Clyde Common at The Ace Hotel, Portland, Oregon
●      The Savoy, London, England 

World’s Best New Cocktail Bar
●      1534, New York City, New York
●      Dram, New York City, New York
●      Eau de Vie, Sydney, Australia
●      Painkiller, New York City, New York 

*Left Coast Libations is the hard back version
**Cocchi Americano is new to the US Market 

About Tales of the Cocktail®
Tales of the Cocktail® is the world’s premier cocktail festival, bringing together the mostrespected minds in mixology for five days of cocktails, cuisine and culture. Held annually inNew Orleans, this event has something for cocktail professionals and amateurs alike with aspirited schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions, parties and special events where brandsshowcase their latest products. Now in its ninth year, Tales of the Cocktail® returns with anotherround events all perfectly paired with some of the best cocktails ever made. Shake things up atTales of the Cocktail® 2011, July 20-24. 

About the New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation SocietyThe New Orleans Culinary and Cultural Preservation Society is a non-profit organizationcommitted to preserving the unique culture of cocktails and cuisine in New Orleans and beyond.Since it’s founding in 2006 the NOCCPS has supported members of the hospitality industrythrough educational opportunities such as the Flo Woodward Scholarship and the CocktailApprentice Scholarship Program as well as the production of events like Tales of the Cocktail®.For more information on Tales of the Cocktail®, visit the website atwww.TalesoftheCocktail.com.  Ticket on sale now.